Non-performative performance style

Randy introduced the idea, early on, that a non-performative style was more desirable. He said that he would tell a story in the early shows when there weren’t enough volunteers:

I thought, I've got to get up there and do it

especially when there's so few names in the hat, those first couple of shows.

It helped, I think, that I had zero experience.

Because I was awkward, sweaty, stumbled, and lost my way, and forgot things.

It actually helped other people get the courage to go to the microphone,

because they saw

how poorly it's possible to do, and not die.

He stated that it was good that he appeared nervous and awkward because it gave others courage. This show is for normal people and they shouldn’t feel that they need to “perform.” That creates too much pressure. They should feel free to come up to the mic and be awkward. Randy is glad he set the stage for that.

In listing what he thought people initially found appealing about Carapace Randy said

So that there was that element of chance.

And there was the element of I'm gonna hear something true from a live person,

probably a stranger,

and probably somebody who doesn't do this very often.

It was important that the storytellers weren’t professional storytellers or performers. They weren’t used to being on stage. He viewed this as a significant appeal factor.

Randy asserted that when people are overly performative, “people go away unmoved.”

They may go away

impressed.

But we all know we've been in many

circumstances where people were impressed

by people who don't particularly move us.

He said it also works the other way.

I wasn't impressed with this

person's command of the language and ability to

gesture and

be florid

and fluent and all that.

I just liked the

guy just told the truth.

It was hard and it was interesting and

funny.

He admitted that when something is well performed

You can't help but admire the mastery.

But when you're done admiring the mastery

that you might mention it on the way home in the car

but you won't think about it next week.

You'll think about the other stuff though

if it's done

in a really honest

and direct and

not too polished

way.

I am wondering if a polished performance distracts from the content. The performance becomes what you focus on instead of the story.